Ingredients

Scale

(Serves 4)

Chicken & veggies:

1½ lbs boneless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced thin
Salt & black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
1 bell pepper (any color), sliced
1 small onion, sliced

Creamy fiesta sauce:

1 (10 oz) can mild salsa (you control the heat—you love spicy!)
4 oz (½ block) full-fat cream cheese, softened (you love cream cheese!)
½ cup heavy cream (or full-fat coconut milk for dairy-free)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp garlic powder
Optional: ½ tsp chipotle powder or 1–2 tbsp chopped green chiles

For serving:

Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges (you love citrus!)
Optional sides:
→ Cauliflower rice or Mexican rice (low-carb—you love this!)
→ Warm tortillas or lettuce wraps

Instructions

1. Sear chicken:

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.

2. Sauté veggies:

In same skillet, add bell pepper and onion; cook 5–6 minutes until crisp-tender.

3. Make sauce:

Stir in salsa, cream cheese, heavy cream, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and optional chipotle/green chiles. Simmer 3–4 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.

4. Finish & serve:

Return chicken to skillet; spoon sauce over. Simmer 2–3 minutes to warm through. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. Serve with your favorite base.

💡 Pro Tips for Perfection:
✅ Use chicken thighs—they stay juicier than breasts during cooking.
✅ Low-sodium mastery (you love this!):
→ Use no-salt-added salsa + skip added salt
→ Boost umami with extra garlic and cumin
✅ Blood sugar friendly (you love this!):
→ Naturally low-glycemic—no added sugars!
→ Add 1 tbsp chia seeds to sauce for fiber + glycemic control
✅ Low-carb/keto option (you love this!):
→ Already compliant! <8g net carbs/serving
→ Increase healthy fats: extra cream + 1 tbsp olive oil
✅ High-protein boost (you love this!):
→ Add ½ cup white beans (+7g protein/serving)
→ Mix in 2 tbsp hemp seeds before serving (+5g protein)
✅ Make ahead:
→ Cook up to 3 days ahead; flavors deepen overnight
→ Freezes 3 months (thaw overnight; reheat gently)

Prep Time & Nutrition (per serving):